Hair curlers



Dec. 31, 1968 E. HOFFMANN ETAI- 3,419,019

HAIR CURLERS Filed Dec. 6, 1965 FIG.3

INVENTORS ERNEST HOFFMANN SIEGBERT OTTO WAGNER ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 E. HOFFMANN TAL 3,419019 HAIR CURLERS Sheet Filed De0- 6, 1965 00 Q OOOOOOOOOOO JUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUHUU ERNEST HOFFMANN SIEGBERT OTTO WAGNER FIG. 6

Unitecl States Patent O 3,419,019 HAIR CURLERS Ernest Hoffmann and Siegbert Otto Wagner, Omaha, Nebr., assignors to Rayette-Faberge, Inc. New York, N.Y., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Dec. 6, 1965, Ser. N0. 511,597 12 Claims. (C1. 132-41) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hair curling device, having an elongated generally cylindrical hollow outer body with comb teeth protruding therefrom and having improved structural components fr selective protraction and retraction of the comb teeth. The comb teeth are arranged in apertures, extending through the hollow outer body, and the apertures and the comb teeth are parallel With the longitudinal axis of the device.

nuan-n.

This invention generally relates to hair curling devices and more particularly, to hair curling devices which in clude a hollow outer body or tube in combination with hair securing, teeth containing mernbers which are retractable into the hollow outer body.

Numerous devices are known for retaining, over a mandrel, a wound hair lock during the formation or setting of a curl. In the most simple form, such devices typically include a bar 0r mandrel having teeth thereon, and a clamping attachment to retain the curl in place until it is set. In using such devices, considerable difl1culty is experienced in re-moval of the curl from the teeth cf the comb. The curls frequently are disrupted and substantial rnanipulation is required to withdraw the comb without destroying the set cf the curl. More elaborate hair curling devices are also known. These latter devices, nevertheless, are too complicated and expensive for practical use.

The present invention provides a substantial improvement over the type of hair curler in which retractable hair securing means are provided, primarily by inclusion of retractable hair securing bars which retract from or engage hair in a positive and efficient manner and yet is simple in construction such that the curler rnay be economically mass produced.

lt is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a new and novel hair curling device having teeth disposed on a retractable hair securing bar such that the teeth rnay retract from or engage a lock of hair in position about an outer body tunbe during hair settirrg while providing means for withdrawing the teeth from engagement With the formed curl to per:mit the curler to be readily rernoved from the hair convolutions without distortion of the set.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a hair curling device of simple and inexpensive construction and having a multiple number of hair securing bars provided with teeth which rnay readily be protracted or retracted to facilitate curl formation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hair curling device having a multiple number of hair securing bars which rnay be simultaneously protracted or retracted in position in a positive and eflicient manner to facilitate curling of hair.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide a hair curling device having a minimum number of separate arts which rnay be readily forrned from inexpensive materials and then assembled With a minimum number of operations.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more appaient from the following description, taken Wtih the accornpanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curler embodying 3,419019 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 the present invention and illustrating the curler as it rnay appear with the hair securing bars clamped and in protracted position;

FIG. 2 further illustrates the embodirnent of FIG. 1 as it appears from a side elevational view taken in halfsection;

FIG. 3 is a further side elevational view of this embodiment taken in half-section and illustratin*g the assembly as it appears With the clamp removed and the teeth in retracted position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the hair curler of FIG. 1 showing the three principal elements thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the clamp which rnay be employed to retain the hair securing bars in protracted position;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention taken as a front elevational view wherein the hair securing bars are formed integral With the outer body tube and in clamped, protracted position;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the hair curler of FIG. 6 showing portions of the outer body tube in broken section;

FIGS. 8-9 present opposite end views of the central element and of the outer body tube respectively cf the curler of FIG. 7 as taken in partial section to illustrate the clamp engaging gears;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the cam of the central element which engages the hair securing bars;

FIG. 11 illustrates the relative position of the cam and hair securing bar, taken in partial section when the teeth are in protracted position; and

FIG. 12 similarly illustrates the relative position of the cam and hair securing bar when the teeth are in retracted position.

Referring to the drawings in which like numbers represent the same elements in the severa1 views, FIG. 1 shoWs hair curler 20 having outer body tube 22 which is generally cylindrical and provided with ventilation apertures 24 and elongated apertures 26 through which rnay be projected comb teeth 28. Clamp 30 rnay be employed, if desired, to secure the comb teeth in protracted position through elongated apertures 26 by engagement of clamp legs 32 and 34 With notches 36 and 38 disposed around the inner surface of rims 40 and 42 located on either side of the hair curler. The outer surface of rim 42 rnay beserrated to conveniently serve as a handle for rnanipulating the comb teeth and to prevent slipping during use cf the curler. Side ventilation apertures 44 and 46 rnay also be included, if desired, in the hub of Tims 40 and 42 to assure more complete ventilation of air through the curler.

FIG. 2 illustrates hair curler 20 taken in half section with three hair securing bars 48, 50, and 52 shown in protracted position and containing a row of comb teeth 28 thereon. It is recognized that any multiple number of hair securing bars rnay be employed in a hair curler such as from 2 to about 8 depending upon the complexity of the hair curler desired and each hair securing bar rnay contain more than one row of comb teeth either spaced in parallel er at random on each bar. The only requirement for smooth operation of the hair curler during retraction and protraction of the hair securing bars is that the bars be substantially equally disposed when in place about the circumference of outer body tube 22. Each hair securing bar is provided With pivotal links 54 and 56 near each end thereof. Pivotal link 54 located near one end of the bar is integrally connected With Slip ring 58 having an inner retaining wall 60 and a slightly smaller insertable flange Wall 62 which rnay securely engage end plate 64 at a provided, centrally arranged opening to receive the slip ring. In assembling the hair curler, Slip ring 58 is merely inserted into the centrally arranged opening of end plate 64 and once seated, the

slip ring rernains permanently fixed in place. The opening formed within slip ring usefully provides side Ventilation aperture 44.

Opposite pivotal link 54 on bar 48, for exarnple, is pivotal link 56 which is integral With actuator member 66 having rim 42 formed near the outer perirneter f the rnember and side ventilation aperture 46 formed as the hob.

FIG. 3 illustrates hair curler as it may appear in quarter secti0n With clarnp removed. It i: apparent that by rernoving clamp 30 and pulling actuator mernber 66 axially, tension will be applied to pivotal links 54 and 56 such that hair securing bars 48 and 50 Will be retracted or drawn toward the central axis of the cnrler. Link notches 68 are preferably included With pivotal links 54 and 56 near the connection points to provicle and facilitate the pivotal action. In orcler to retain comb teeth 28 in retracted position within outer body tube 22, suitable locking means illustrated as knobs 70 in FIG 3 may be included on actuator member 66 for engagernent With holes 72 provided in outer body tube 22. Other suit able loeking rneans may also be employed in place of knobs 70 and holes 72 if desired.

The prineipal elements forming hair curler 20 are illustrated in FIG. 4 and include outer body tube 22, alternate ernbodirnent clamp 74 further shown in side elevational view in FIG. 5, and central element 75. Except for alternate em-bodiment clarnp 74, the various unique cornbination 0f parts 0f the central element and the outer body tube elements have been previously defined. Clamp 74 includes, in addition to legs 76 and 78 having sligl1tly beveled edges 80 and 82 respectlvely, flange 84, which rnay be either srnooth as illustrated or alternately, embossed, toothed, or provided With hair gripping members now shown, to retain the curvature of a wound curl while the clamp is in place during the curl setting period. Flange 84 eliminates any sharp depressions which may otherwise appear in the formed curl when a more simple configuration is employed for the clarnp such as one formed from a fiat plate.

FIGS. 6-7 illustrate an ernbo liment eurler of the present invention wherein the hair securing bars are formed integral With the outer body tube. With specific reference to FIG. 6, hair curler 86 is shown With elarnp 74 in platze and comb teeth 88 having varying heights as described hereinafter in protracted posltion 0n hair securing bars 90 and 92. Hair securing bars 90 and 92 are formed by removing longitudinal strips 94 and 96 from the outer body tube 98. These removed strips provide ventilation apertures and may be supplernented by additional ventilation aperture 100.

In FIG. 7, the three principal elements of hair curler 86 are shown in more detail and included clamp 74, outer body tube 98, provided With c:lamp engaging notches 99 and central element 102. Central element 102 ineludes hollow shaft 104 Which supports cam 106 at one end and serrated rim 108 at the other end. Rim 108 may be provided With a suitable retaining means, not shown, to secure the rim in operating relationship With the outer body tube 98. Clamp engaging notches 115 rnay also be provided about the inner surface of rim 108 as shown in partial section in FIG. 8. Side ventilation apertures 117 in FIG. 8 and 118 in FIG. 9 rnay also be pr0- vided, if desired.

Cam 106, shown further in FIG. 10, has centrally arranged cut-out 110 for adaptation on hollow shaft 104 and eccentric cam apertures 112 each of Which individually engages hair securing bar 90 which may ride in depression 111 as Cam 106 rotates. Engagement of cam 106 With hair securing bar 90 rnay be more clearly seen in FIGS. 11 and 12 wherein angle bracket 114 is shown connected to the base of hair securing bar 90 and provided With pin 116 which engages eccentric aperture 112 01 cam 106. Bracket 114 may be f0rrned either separate or integral With bar 90 as desired In operation, comb teeth 88 of varying lengths are rnaintained in protracted position when pin 116 is at a position in eccentric aperture 112 which is the maximum distance frorn the axis of rotation. By rotating rim 108 and resultantly, cam 106, pin 116 travels within eccentric aperture 112 to a mininiurn distance from the axis of rotation of the carn and thereby withdraws the hair securing bar into retracted position. It is apparent that because of the varying lengths of the eomb teeth 88 on a bowed hair securing bar, the edges of the comb teeth 88 appear below the surface of outer body tube 98 of the hair curler.

In Operation; the comb teeth of the hair cnrler of the present invention are first manipulated to protracted position in order t0 receive a tress of hair wound about the outer body tube by rotating the curler about its longitudinal axis. When the desired amount of hair is wound on the curler, the clamp may be inserted in position on the curler to secure the curler in place during the setting of the hair. After the curl has been set, the clarnp is removed and the comb teeth manipulated t0 retracted osition whereupon the curler rnay simply be withdrawn endwi:e from the finished curl without distortion.

With respect to construction of the various elements of the present hair curler, it Will be recognized that the eparate elements may be economically molded or extruded frorn thermoplastic organic resinous material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or the like. In order to reduce friction and to facilitate manipulation, certain of the working parts may be formed of metal or lubrieant containing plastic materials as desirecl.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations n1ay be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A hair curling device comprising:

(A) an elongated generally cylindrical hollow outer body having a multiple nurnber of axially elongated apertures disposed in its lateral Wall;

(B) a central element including hair securing bars and an actuator member, said central element axially disposed within said hollow outer body, said hair securing bars having comb teeth integrally arranged on one surface thereof and each bar disposed within an axially elongated aperture such that manipulation 0f the actuator member simultaneously pro tracts and retracts each hair securing bar within the associated axially elongated aperture; and

(C) a clamp having two leg rnembers which removably and simultaneously engage one end 0f said cylindrical hollow onter body and one end of said actuator rnember 0f the central element to retain the hair securing bars in protracted position.

2. A hair curling device comprising:

(A) an elongated generally cylindrical hollow outer body having a multiple nurnber of axially elongated apertures disposed in its lateral wall and a circular end Wall plate near one end thereof;

(B) a central element including hair securing bars connected by integral pivotal links near one end cf each bar to an actuator member and by integral pivotal links near the opposite end of each bar to a slip ring which securely engages said circular end wall plate, said central element axially disposed within said hollow outer body, said hair securing bars having comb teeth integrally arranged on one surface thereof and each bar disposed within an axially elongated aperture such that axial movement of the actuator mernber simultaneously protracts and retracts each hair securing bar Within the associated axially elongated aperture; and

(C) a clamp having two leg members which rernovably and simultaneously engage one end of said cylindrical hollow outer body near the end plate wall and the outer end of said actuator member of the Central element to retain the hair securing bars in protracted position.

3. The hair curling device of claim 2 wherein the multiple number of axially elongated apertures is from 2 t about 8.

4. The hair curling device of claim 2 wherein the clamp includes an arcuate flange between said leg mernbers to prevent undesired indentation of a curl tress wound about the hollow outer body during setting of a curl.

5. A hair curling device comprising:

(A) an elongated generally cylindrical hollow outer body having a multiple number of axially elongated apertures disposed in its lateral wall and a hair securing bar formed within each 0f said apertures, said hair securing bars having comb teeth arranged along one surface thereof and projecting in varying lengths fron1 said bar such that upon depression of the bar near its center, the comb teeth retract within the elongated aperture and below the outer surface of the elongated aperture and below the outer surface of the lateral wall;

(B) a central element within the hollow outer body, said central element including a shaft, a cam disposed near one end and an actuator member oppositely disposed on said shaft, said cam provided With a multiple number of eccentric apertures;

(C) link rneans connecting the inner surface of each hair securing bar with each 0f said eccentric apertures such that rotation of the actuator member about the central axis of the hollow outer body simultaneously protracts and retracts each hair securing bar within the associated axially elongated aperture; and

(D) a clarnp having two leg members which removably and simultaneously engage one end of said cylindrical hollow outer body and the outer end of said actuator member of the central element to retain the hair securing bars in protracted position.

6. The hair curling device of claim wherein the multiple number of axially elongated apertures is frorn 2 to about 8.

7. The hair curling device of claim 5 wherein the clamp includes an arcuate flange between said leg members to prevent undesirable indentation of a curl tress wound about the hollow outer body during setting of a curl.

8. A hair curling device comprising an elongated generally cylindrical hollow outer body having a multiple number of axially elongated apertures disposed in its lateral Wall, a hair securing bar formed within each of said apertures, integral with the cylindrical hollow outer body, a central element having an actuator member within the cylindrical hollow outer body, said hair securing bars having comb teeth integrally arranged on one surface thereof and means operatively connecting each of said bars with the actuator member whereby manipulation of the actuator member simultaneously protracts 0r retracts each hair securing bar within the associated axially elongated aperture.

9. A hair curling device comprising an elongated generally cylindrical hollow outer body having a multiple number of axially elongated apertures disposed in its latteral wall and a hair securing bar formed within each Of said apertures integrally with the cylindrical hollow outer body, said hair securing bars havin-g comb teeth arranged along one surface thereof and projecting in varying lengths from said bar such that upon depression 0f the bar near its center, the comb teeth retract within the elongated aperture and below the outer surface of the lateral wall, a central element within the hollow outer body, said central element including a shaft, a cam mounted on said shaft provided with a multiple number of eccentric apertures, link means connecting the inner surface of the hair securing bars with said eccentric apertures such that rotation of the cam simultaneously protracts and retracts each hair securing bar within its associated axially elongated aperture.

10. A hair curling device comprising an elongated generally cylindrical hollow outer body having a plurality of apertures extending longitudinally through its lateral wall, hair securing bars having comb teeth protruding therefrom and arranged longitudinally thereof, said hair securing bars being disposed within the cylindrical Wall, longitudinally thereof, With their comb teeth arranged longitudinally in alignment With the apertures, a fixed support within the cylindrical wall and in proximity to the bars at one end thereof, links pivotally connecting the support with the ends of the bars in proximity thereto, an axially movable actuator in proxirnity to the opposite ends of the bars, and links pivotally connecting said actuator and said opposite ends of said bars, whereby, upon axial movement of the actuator, the bars are moved radially of the hollow body to eifect protraction or retraction of the comb teeth through their aligned apertures.

'11. The hair curling device as defined in claim 10 in which the connections between the links and the support at one end of the bars and between the links and the actuator at the other ends of the bars are closer to the axis of the cylindrical hollow body than the connections between the links and the bars so that axial movement of the actuator inwardly of the cylindrical body forces the bars in a direction radially outwardly from the axis of the cylindrical body.

12. The hair curling device as defined in clairn 11 in which the links are integral With the bars and the actuator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2762378 10/1956 Lerner 13241 3148685 9/1964 Haynes et a1. 13233 3260269 7/1966 Furndorfer 132-33 LOUIS G. MANC-ENE, Primary Examiner. JAMES W. MITCHELL, Assistant Examz'ner. 

